Puzzle-type game

ABSTRACT

A game characterized by the provision of plural playing tiles for each player with peripheral notches in the playing tiles and grooves in the faces of the playing tiles and a plurality of preferably resilient endless strands, such as rubber bands, the object of the game being for each player to wrap the rubber bands about the tiles in the pattern indicated by the grooves on the opposed faces of the tiles without repeating any pattern.

United States Patent Breslow 5] Mar. 14, 1972 [54] PUZZLE-TYPE GAME 2,815,215 12/1957 Travis ..35/27 X [72] Inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago, Ill. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [731 Assignefi Marvin Glass 385,643 1933 Great Britain ..35/26 [22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1970 P E R h dc F kh nmary xammeric ar in am [21] APPI- N05 18,858 Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [52] U.S.Cl ..273/l59 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63f 9/00 ABSTRACT R, A g characterized the provision of plural tiles for each player with peripheral notches in the playing tiles and grooves in the faces of the playing tiles and a plurality of [56] References Cited preferably resilient endless strands, such as rubber bands, the UNITED STATES PATENTS object of the game being for each player to wrap the rubber bands about the tiles in the pattern indicated by the grooves Fasmo on the opposed faces of the tiles without repeating any pat- 1,922,229 8/1933 Burke ..35/27 term 923,863 6/1909 Lehr r ..273/159 843,490 2/ 1907 Pusey ..273/ 159 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented March 14, 1972' I N \/E NTO i2 JfFFPiV 0 5255A 0W BY W W amwmmw ATTORN EYS V PUZZLE-TYPE GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to game devices.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There are many games which employ the concept of recognition of a geometric pattern and/or execution of manual dexterity in either creating or following such a pattern. These games are most desirable, especially for children, in that they teach the child recognition of physical patterns and/or physical structures and further cause the child to be involved in some sort of finger dexterity or the like in attempting to successfully execute the game pattern. Such devices are always desirable in the art and it is the purpose of this invention to provide yet another improved form of a finger manipulation geometric pattern recognition game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved game employing the concept of recognition of geometric patterns and the execution of finger manipulation skills in following the geometric patterns.

The best mode currently contemplated by me for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a plurality of different tile-like playing pieces for each player of the game. Preferably, the tile-like playing pieces have peripheral notches and guide lines preferably in the form of grooves running between some of the notches. It is contemplated that each player would have several different tiles such as four. Strand means preferably in the form of rubber bands are also provided and the object of the game is for each player to attempt to wrap rubber bands about the tiles in the manner indicated by the grooves extending between the notches, without repeating any pattern, with the player to first so successfully wrap all of his tiles being declared the winner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game of this invention with the elements laid out ready for play;

FIG. 2a is a plan view of one of the faces of one of the playing tiles of this invention;

FIG. 2b is a plan view of the other face of the playing tile in FIG. 2a; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another playing tile of this invention successfully wrapped with a strand element.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game of this invention includes a plurality of playing pieces or tiles, generally designated 12, and plural strand means 14, preferably being endless resilient loops, such as rubber bands and the like.

With particular attention to FIGS. 2a and 2b, specific tiles l6 and 18 are illustrated therein. It is intended that each of the several tiles 12 would have a generally rectangular configuration as illustrated by the sides 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d for tile 16 and the sides 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d for the tile 18. Furthermore, preferably the tiles would be of generally flat configuration haVing opposed flat faces, such as the face 24 for tile 16, and the face 26 for tile 18.

The periphery of each of the several tiles is provided with strand receiving means, such as the notches 28 and 30 in side 20a of tile 16; the notches 32 and 34 in side 20b of the same tile' the notches 36 and 38 in the side 20:." and the notches 40 and 42 in the side 20d. Similarly, tile I8 is provided with strand receiving means such as notches 44 and 46 in side 22a; 48 and 50 in side 22b; 52 and 54 in side 22c; and 56 and 58 in side 22d. The other different tiles of the plural set 12 would be similarly configured.

Interconnecting the strand receiving means is a strand route indicator means 60 of different random patterns for each tile. While this strand route indicator means could take various forms, including that of score lines or grooves, it is preferred that route indicator means be provided by a painted indication line on the faces of the tiles. As shown in FIG. 2a, the indicator means could include a line 62 running from notches 30 and 42; a line 64 running from notches 28 and 42; a line 66 running in the face 24 from notches 32 to 38; and a line 68 running in the face 24 from notches 34 to 36. Similarly, with respect to tile 18 shown in FIG. 2b, the indicator means 60 could include a line 70 running from notches 50 and 52; a line 72 running from notches 48 and 56; a line 74 running from notches 44 and 54 and a line 76 running from notches 46 to 56.

The object of the game is for each player to be provided with the several different tiles as shown displayed in FIG. I and with the strand means, in the form of rubber bands, deposited in the center of the area. Each player then attempts to wind the rubber band about the tiles in the manner indicated by the route indicator means 60 on the several different tiles, in the quickest amount of time, and without doubling over in making the pattern. It can be easily appreciated that this involves both a concept of geometric recognition as well as the exercise of finger dexterity. The player to correctly complete the winding of his set of tiles in the shortest amount of time is considered the winner. FIG. 3 illustrates how a completed tile might look with the rubber band or strand means 14 wrapped about a given tile 12 without any doubling over or without any exposed indicator means 60.

Thus, this invention provides a game which is simple to understand and yet may be exceedingly difficult to execute. It also is believed to be capable of enjoyment by diverse age groups with younger children perhaps finding the strand manipulation more easily accomplished than older participants, while the pattern recognition may be more quickly visualized by older participants than the younger. Thus, it is believed that participants of diverse age groups will, generally speaking, be participating on a relatively equal basis, which of course, adds to the enjoyment of the game for all involved.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

I. A game comprising: plural playing pieces having a peripheral edge and opposite faces; strand members for wrapping about portions of said playing pieces; plural strand receiving notches in the periphery of each of the playing pieces; and plural strand route indicating means on faces of the playing pieces extending between some of the notches.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein different playing piece members have different route indicating paths on the opposite faces thereof.

3. The game of claim 2 wherein the strand member is a continuous resilient loop.

4. The game of claim 3 wherein the playing pieces are tilelike members.

5. The game of claim 4 wherein the playing pieces are generally rectangular with substantially flat, parallel opposed faces and plural notches in each of the sides of the periphery thereof. 

1. A game comprising: plural playing pieces having a peripheral edge and opposite faces; strand members for wrapping about portions of said playing pieces; plural strand receiving notches in the periphery of each of the playing pieces; and plural strand route indicating means on faces of the playing pieces extending Between some of the notches.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein different playing piece members have different route indicating paths on the opposite faces thereof.
 3. The game of claim 2 wherein the strand member is a continuous resilient loop.
 4. The game of claim 3 wherein the playing pieces are tile-like members.
 5. The game of claim 4 wherein the playing pieces are generally rectangular with substantially flat, parallel opposed faces and plural notches in each of the sides of the periphery thereof. 